Rough Research Dump
Need collective compassion and social justice - move away from food banks to address root causes. Government has outsourced hunger to charity - creating second tier food markets for "left behind" people to access "left over" food. Corporate food waste is a symptom of a dysfunctional food distribution system, and hunger a symptom of broken social safety nets. Need to create a food sharing ecosystem to reduce food waste and address local food insecurity and build community.
urbanfoodfutures.com/2018/01/18/food-sharing-in-the-city/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
Canadian source for food integration - check out link for companies to determine if it is "worth it" to donate food
www.fledgeresearch.ca
Could look for funding of innovation from Maple Leaf www.feedopportunity.com/en/
Collective "pantry" app to share where to find low cost meals, community gardens, food assistance programs. Would be resource to document where gaps in food system exist. (Would need to have available in physical print at food banks, etc) What about matching businesses with surplus food?
Currently in Vancouver's North Shore www.tablematters.ca
Community Food Centre that brings people together to grow, cook and share food in Calgary thealexcfc.ca/
Calgary Food finder for kids and teens -www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4216050?__twitter_impression=true
21/02/18
Got in contact with Knox United Church to see about their community kitchen and distribution centre. It is still in the planning stages and does not exist yet. Could this niche be filled?
Home gardeners sign up for what they are growing, what they are interested in buying. Matches made when ready to harvest
www.seedvoyage.com/
"Gleaning" from commercial farmers and donating at Salvation Army
www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4384719#click=https://t.co/MV1SeEwbh3
Distribute fresh produce at reasonable prices to marginalized communities/senior citizens/new immigrants
Issue of storage, transportation costs - excess warehouse space? What about a bicycle? Coiuld pick up "excess" food from local restaurants or farmer's market?
foodlinkny.org/fight_hunger/curbside-market/#tab-1
Pop up markets at train stations to target those that cannot drive
www.metronews.ca/news/calgary/2017/11/02/chew-on-this-calgary-transit-quietly-pilots-fresh-fruit-markets-at-lrt-stations.html
Learning gardens in marginalized communities
www.ecowatch.com/kimbal-musk-big-green-2526320721.amp.html?__twitter_impression=true
Food forest! Connect with Adrian Buckley, of Calgary-based reGenerate Design and Paul Hughes of Grow Calgary
thechronicleherald.ca/artslife/1536877-food-forests-for-healthy-urban-living
Purchase tokens from local restaurants/farmers market- would provide stable market
www.metronews.ca/news/halifax/2018/01/17/a-token-of-change-halifax-cafe-helping-those-in-need-with-a-hand-up.html
www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4467754?__twitter_impression=true
www.saltedbrick.com/index.php/a-bicycle-built-for-food-security/
civileats.com/2018/01/19/a-gift-economy-could-change-the-food-system/
Campus ideas:
www.mealexchange.com/
Communal meals!
civileats.com/2017/11/23/the-power-of-a-communal-meal/
Impressive google doc at Western University - student identity safe - Food bank packs items - pick up items in locker in Mac Hall -
www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4437597?__twitter_impression=true
UPDATE 21/02/18: Spoke with Pastor Collins of Deer Park United Church.
Use of their food assistance program is on the rise. Many people are seeking out alternative sources through Free Food Calgary on Alberta Health Services page. (http://www.acadsa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Free-Food-in-Calgary-September-2016.pdf) Possibility that information is being provided by Calgary Food Bank. This information is already out there and a new app would likely be unnecessary. The AHS pdf could be updated (since the last addition was in 2016) or low cost options could be added, but this does not seem like the most pressing issue.
Food Bank and Church Hampers (21/02/18)
Many community gardens are extremely small scale (box plots) meant for individual consumption. Larger scale gardens could be more efficient when used for feeding vulnerable citizens. Contact Jeremiah Morrison of the Bonavista Downs Society. City stringent on which lands can be used for growing--wouldn't even permit wildflowers on hill.
According to Pastor Collins, many users of their church pantry are individuals or families in local apartments who have used up their seven food bank visits per year. Some are looking to go onto AISH but are still waiting. Many of the items they receive do not last long enough to span the 1-2 months between recommended visits. Seven users live within 1-2 blocks of each other. Items in the church hampers are mainly perishable fruits and vegetables, coming from the Calgary Community Kitchen in the NW or supplemented by individual purchases from the grocery store.
Recommended looking into arocha.ca, Mennonite Gleaners of Abbotsford, and Alberta Works.
(2/24/18) Joy Gregory - Calgary Compassionate Food Dignity Collaborative - 403 547 2611
"Change is not easy"
Disparity between neighbourhoods - need to share wealth
Tipping points communities of Bowness, Forest Lawn and HIllhurst - social housing/group homes
United way designated "hubs" in 2017 - contact Bodil Masterson, Project Manager, Community Hub Initiative, or call 403-441-2269.
As simple as community garden seems, economics of growing food vs low cost of buying an issue
Grow Calgary vision to grow all food - economic reality
Food Bank in Calgary is actual distribution centre for Western Canada - tax incentives for companies to ship excess here
Food Bank had pursued this but abandoned with complexities involved and the fact that it would distract from primary focus
Alex Centre community garden now designated "for educational purposes only"
Families that are food insecure are stressed out already - balcony example - is it actually possible to grow sufficient food in Calgary
Need to deal with social and mental heath concerns but do social benefits offset costs - decrease in isolation
Social worker is primary source of information (Sarah Pagat)
Community Kitchen challenge to find volunteers with budgeting, meal planning and organizational skills
St Maria Goretti in Hawkwood - family is designated to tend garden weekly - harvest and share (Nicole Lomardo)
Hillhurst Community - Fresh Market Monday 4PM - every 2nd week - supported by Blush Lane
Bow west Community Association ??Aramatha Church has garden - on a hill - difficult to access without transportation (no bathroom)
??Calgary Eats also distributes food also - not always "extra" available
IDEA: Need to leverage existing venues - Genesis Centre ?Sunrise
distribute tickets based on need and have free food distribution points
need to have sustainable, economic solution - corporate support needed! based on Ottawa locator - could be open source to ensure most up to date information
Google maps for food location?
FOOD FOR ALL - Monday Feb 26th - Compassionate Food Dignity Collective
Franco Savoia - Director Vibrant Communities Calgary 403 283 2126
Dimitri Passaita - Calgary Food Bank 403 319 0845
Renee MacKillop - Alex Centre
Bethany - Brown Bagging it
Sundae Nordin - Community Kitchen
Rebecca - Shaganappi Community
What would success would look like? That the agencies were no longer needed
Increasing demand continues – service should be decreasing
How do you report to gain funding?
Census 2006 - 2016 – low income cutoff after taxes decreased by 2% to 8.2% BUT
Population grew by 25% - estimated 150,000 people affected in Calgary
Poverty reduction network for all of AB – meet every two month
New trending reports coming
School of public policy UofC – changing face of poverty - mid April
Would help to inform advocacy going forward
Food security is about lack of income, not lack of food
Basic Income in AB – major brief coming end of April
** check out Toronto Star article on basic income
Food literacy/food bank is not a solution
2yrs ago – singles – w/o children have been cut out of funding – family services cutbacks
Bow West – looking at single men/seniors
Sunrise – funded by United way – only for children
Lynn MacIntrye – definition of food insecurity
50% reduction in food insecurity if basic income implemented
Will spend on food,
FRANKO VIDEO: Only 1/5 people who need the food bank will actually go
Val Tarysic –
Finding the “golden ticket”
Proof 18 survey questions – standardized
Who are the people who are in need: Income/ sources, expenses,
Should not have an obstacle to access food security – what is the underlying issue?
Important to Help – cut food costs first – but ask for food last – long cycle
Emergency food access should be more dignified
One definition of Dignity=choice
Brown Bagging 4200 kids in 215 schools (2/3rds of city) (1% of population)– has doubled over 2years – awareness at school level – community cares about you
Community Kitchen – work with agencies – no means test for Good Food Box
Bringing teaching element to programs – flyer shop, cook
In 42 schools – 10 week program Grades 4-6 – healthy choices– chop and prepare food
Calgary Produce Association supports – schools apply, bc kitchen gone from school
Tummy Tamers:
12,000 kids in the parks over the summer – hot meals – partner with Park and Play
Food Bank – sends hamper to 10 schools – 2 days of food for chronically hungry does not have to cook over weekend – mostly grade levels – high school stigma
– 80% success –attendance – grades
Alex: How you do it “non stigmatized”– Food Centre – 88% of people made a new friend – community capacity building
Food bank = emergency room
Peer advocacy program – to help when 7X run out – do accept referrals from agencies if need beyond – most important to have collaborative approach – should social worker be involved?
St Vincent – 30 day policy – they call on day 28
Why is there a 7 hamper policy – is the data real?
Moral pressure release valve – all agencies keep it simmering
MLA asking to remove cap for their area
Minimum $18.15/hour – calculator for Calgary
Need to find sources – not an “emergency”
¼ Working poor
1/10 chronic – will never have enough money for food
AISH – provide housing and income to be food secure but due to mental illness they are not capable to understand
Don’t want to have repeat customers – take more intentional approach – systems levels approach – policy – mental health advocates
LEFTOVERS CALGARY
Having trouble getting and distributing food – weather
Feb 27th - in conversation with one of my mom's friends who volunteered with United Way, I shared my concept of building a service to provide a dignified way that those who are food insecure can source out local options. I was thrilled to learn that there is a 211 service that is housed out of the Distress Centre. When I called that evening, I was surprised to learn that they simply accessed informalberta.ca - under directory - food assistance. It is the responsibility of each service provider to ensure their information is up to date, and accurate. I was curious how often this was being accessed by those that are food insecure and was provided the Contact Centre manager's name - Chloe McBean to request data. Given this does not seem to be widely known, I am hopeful that I can still build something more well known and accessible. I have been thinking of sharing the map with each service in Calgary, so they can let their clients know about it and hopefully get some media exposure to spread the word.
http://proof.utoronto.ca/resources/presentations/
Presentations – PROOF
proof.utoronto.ca
Food Insecurity in Canada Queen’s International Innovation Challenge Kick Off, October 2017 Basic Income Through the Lens of Food Insecurity Vibrant…
Talked with AnneMarie, loved idea of map, suggested moving focus away from "giving food to people in a new way" to "What challenges do people face when currently trying to access food?"
Perhaps work with orgs to create a standard process (other than PROOF) for application? Would this solve issue, or just create another competing standard? (https://xkcd.com/927/)
Food Not Bombs (09/03/18)
Challenges facing the org:
- Storage, volunteers, transportation of food
Because of decentralized anarchist nature of movement, contact is hard to maintain between independent branches
Food & housing access must go hand-in-hand
$14mil spent harassing homeless
Dignity denied for homeless - "Like an interment camp" - NIMBY
Stasha Huntington (11/03/18)
Challenge that many wouldn’t consider?
- Transportation
-imagine walking from forest lawn to food bank
- people w/o money for food can’t use transit
- higher cost in poor neighbourhoods - transfer cost from luxury products to necessities - captive audience
- people will go to alex before going local, takes up income/time, no community built
- hard to starve in Calgary, Vancouver (different elsewhere) food available but not good quality
Issues that aren’t being addressed?
- choice building
- charity model, focus placed to giver (I did good!)
- old/expired food (esp for baby formula)
- Price-taking & walmart - wages don’t allow for ppl to eat here, prices low bc of imperialism
Google map & accessibility of information/food services
- great idea
What does community building look like?
- cultural access to food, (indigenous, sudanese)
- connecting with heritage to reduce isolation
- talking with people you normally wouldn’t
How does one (get in contact with) make services known to vulnerable?
- street survival guide
- 211, AHS
- local orgs - alex should be all over calgary
- community building
Poverty reduction strategy - Vibrant Communities
- Enough for all
Thoughts surrounding community gardens?
- alternative high school
- therapeutic to address trauma
- Address social isolation
Thoughts surrounding UBI?
- Disastrous in neoliberalism, takes away all services (counselling, housing)
- minimum wage, pensions supposed to be basic income
- pensions don’t consider child rearing, haven’t changed since 70s
- rising property taxes against flat rate, homeless seniors
- After flood, many seniors were housed but did not speak up about food insecurity due to stigma/shame - reflects back to charity model (who deserves food?)
- Racism against outsiders and cradle to grave socialism in Scandanavia - based on nationality, western power - "I've paid 70% my whole life and you want to come here? F*ck off."
- supports needed beside income (housing, mental health, etc)
Other thoughts:
Paul Hughes - innovation in land access but one note man - talks about food access at low-cost housing
Certain number of food hampers need to be authorized - could have change
Scorn to spending on luxury items but imagine that life
Depression era policies (unsustainable farming, liberalism), FN reserves (lack of choice destroys culture) reflected in current era
Means to an end with conservatism, individual choice addressed by RalphBucks - how to address systemic issues and personal choice meaningfully?
Farming vegan crops suited to climate (lentils, chickpeas, potatoes,
Taking incremental approach to change - can we farm an unused strip of land?
Shelters do not grow own food
Hydroponics tech from North not widely adopted
Why are lawns a thing - at least grow native grass
Public events have focus on individual’s food, tim’s if lucky
Dyeing meat red and the other ridiculousness of advertising - the irrational man
Many recognize issues with capitalism, not many take action
What people keep vs what they give away - chomsky
Charity model decides whether people deserve basic necessities - sympathy vs empathy
Free market
About 40ppl lined up
Great way to build community - localized to neighbourhood - collective brainpower - local grocery prices very high
Heather & Shay
Avg 60 households/week, last week was 87
Ask for surveys (1/year)
#s skyrocketing in past couple of months
Concerned about demand exceeding supply if put on city-wide map, (call to see if orgs want to be taken off?) otherwise think it is amazing
Mix of greater community orgs and knowledge sharing
Most donations from foodLink
Very hard to get donations from large grocery stores—1 donation/year
Small grocers more frequent—1pallet/month, blush lane every 2 weeks
-Co-Op not approached bc not in neighbourhood
Try to create de-stigmatizing atmosphere—guests invited to linger, chat with others, try out other services—choice of food provided, not a hamper
Size of household:tokens (1:3),(2-4:6),(5+:9)
Will not turn ppl away
All nearing expired food donated through LeftOvers—hard to get expired donations otherwise
Almost always use all food—what’s not used is carried over to next week if possible
Talk to united way to see if more sources are out there
Many who use service are regulars, important that service is sustainable
One drives from forest lawn
Wide variety of food not available
Leftover food sometimes used at neighbour night (community cooking/potluck)
Go general in description if possible
Having more community markets around the city “would be the dream”
urbanfoodfutures.com/2018/01/18/food-sharing-in-the-city/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
Canadian source for food integration - check out link for companies to determine if it is "worth it" to donate food
www.fledgeresearch.ca
Could look for funding of innovation from Maple Leaf www.feedopportunity.com/en/
Collective "pantry" app to share where to find low cost meals, community gardens, food assistance programs. Would be resource to document where gaps in food system exist. (Would need to have available in physical print at food banks, etc) What about matching businesses with surplus food?
Currently in Vancouver's North Shore www.tablematters.ca
Community Food Centre that brings people together to grow, cook and share food in Calgary thealexcfc.ca/
Calgary Food finder for kids and teens -www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4216050?__twitter_impression=true
21/02/18
Got in contact with Knox United Church to see about their community kitchen and distribution centre. It is still in the planning stages and does not exist yet. Could this niche be filled?
Home gardeners sign up for what they are growing, what they are interested in buying. Matches made when ready to harvest
www.seedvoyage.com/
"Gleaning" from commercial farmers and donating at Salvation Army
www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4384719#click=https://t.co/MV1SeEwbh3
Distribute fresh produce at reasonable prices to marginalized communities/senior citizens/new immigrants
Issue of storage, transportation costs - excess warehouse space? What about a bicycle? Coiuld pick up "excess" food from local restaurants or farmer's market?
foodlinkny.org/fight_hunger/curbside-market/#tab-1
Pop up markets at train stations to target those that cannot drive
www.metronews.ca/news/calgary/2017/11/02/chew-on-this-calgary-transit-quietly-pilots-fresh-fruit-markets-at-lrt-stations.html
Learning gardens in marginalized communities
www.ecowatch.com/kimbal-musk-big-green-2526320721.amp.html?__twitter_impression=true
Food forest! Connect with Adrian Buckley, of Calgary-based reGenerate Design and Paul Hughes of Grow Calgary
thechronicleherald.ca/artslife/1536877-food-forests-for-healthy-urban-living
Purchase tokens from local restaurants/farmers market- would provide stable market
www.metronews.ca/news/halifax/2018/01/17/a-token-of-change-halifax-cafe-helping-those-in-need-with-a-hand-up.html
www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4467754?__twitter_impression=true
www.saltedbrick.com/index.php/a-bicycle-built-for-food-security/
civileats.com/2018/01/19/a-gift-economy-could-change-the-food-system/
Campus ideas:
www.mealexchange.com/
Communal meals!
civileats.com/2017/11/23/the-power-of-a-communal-meal/
Impressive google doc at Western University - student identity safe - Food bank packs items - pick up items in locker in Mac Hall -
www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4437597?__twitter_impression=true
UPDATE 21/02/18: Spoke with Pastor Collins of Deer Park United Church.
Use of their food assistance program is on the rise. Many people are seeking out alternative sources through Free Food Calgary on Alberta Health Services page. (http://www.acadsa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Free-Food-in-Calgary-September-2016.pdf) Possibility that information is being provided by Calgary Food Bank. This information is already out there and a new app would likely be unnecessary. The AHS pdf could be updated (since the last addition was in 2016) or low cost options could be added, but this does not seem like the most pressing issue.
Food Bank and Church Hampers (21/02/18)
Many community gardens are extremely small scale (box plots) meant for individual consumption. Larger scale gardens could be more efficient when used for feeding vulnerable citizens. Contact Jeremiah Morrison of the Bonavista Downs Society. City stringent on which lands can be used for growing--wouldn't even permit wildflowers on hill.
According to Pastor Collins, many users of their church pantry are individuals or families in local apartments who have used up their seven food bank visits per year. Some are looking to go onto AISH but are still waiting. Many of the items they receive do not last long enough to span the 1-2 months between recommended visits. Seven users live within 1-2 blocks of each other. Items in the church hampers are mainly perishable fruits and vegetables, coming from the Calgary Community Kitchen in the NW or supplemented by individual purchases from the grocery store.
Recommended looking into arocha.ca, Mennonite Gleaners of Abbotsford, and Alberta Works.
(2/24/18) Joy Gregory - Calgary Compassionate Food Dignity Collaborative - 403 547 2611
"Change is not easy"
Disparity between neighbourhoods - need to share wealth
Tipping points communities of Bowness, Forest Lawn and HIllhurst - social housing/group homes
United way designated "hubs" in 2017 - contact Bodil Masterson, Project Manager, Community Hub Initiative, or call 403-441-2269.
As simple as community garden seems, economics of growing food vs low cost of buying an issue
Grow Calgary vision to grow all food - economic reality
Food Bank in Calgary is actual distribution centre for Western Canada - tax incentives for companies to ship excess here
Food Bank had pursued this but abandoned with complexities involved and the fact that it would distract from primary focus
Alex Centre community garden now designated "for educational purposes only"
Families that are food insecure are stressed out already - balcony example - is it actually possible to grow sufficient food in Calgary
Need to deal with social and mental heath concerns but do social benefits offset costs - decrease in isolation
Social worker is primary source of information (Sarah Pagat)
Community Kitchen challenge to find volunteers with budgeting, meal planning and organizational skills
St Maria Goretti in Hawkwood - family is designated to tend garden weekly - harvest and share (Nicole Lomardo)
Hillhurst Community - Fresh Market Monday 4PM - every 2nd week - supported by Blush Lane
Bow west Community Association ??Aramatha Church has garden - on a hill - difficult to access without transportation (no bathroom)
??Calgary Eats also distributes food also - not always "extra" available
IDEA: Need to leverage existing venues - Genesis Centre ?Sunrise
distribute tickets based on need and have free food distribution points
need to have sustainable, economic solution - corporate support needed! based on Ottawa locator - could be open source to ensure most up to date information
Google maps for food location?
FOOD FOR ALL - Monday Feb 26th - Compassionate Food Dignity Collective
Franco Savoia - Director Vibrant Communities Calgary 403 283 2126
Dimitri Passaita - Calgary Food Bank 403 319 0845
Renee MacKillop - Alex Centre
Bethany - Brown Bagging it
Sundae Nordin - Community Kitchen
Rebecca - Shaganappi Community
What would success would look like? That the agencies were no longer needed
Increasing demand continues – service should be decreasing
How do you report to gain funding?
Census 2006 - 2016 – low income cutoff after taxes decreased by 2% to 8.2% BUT
Population grew by 25% - estimated 150,000 people affected in Calgary
Poverty reduction network for all of AB – meet every two month
New trending reports coming
School of public policy UofC – changing face of poverty - mid April
Would help to inform advocacy going forward
Food security is about lack of income, not lack of food
Basic Income in AB – major brief coming end of April
** check out Toronto Star article on basic income
Food literacy/food bank is not a solution
2yrs ago – singles – w/o children have been cut out of funding – family services cutbacks
Bow West – looking at single men/seniors
Sunrise – funded by United way – only for children
Lynn MacIntrye – definition of food insecurity
50% reduction in food insecurity if basic income implemented
Will spend on food,
FRANKO VIDEO: Only 1/5 people who need the food bank will actually go
Val Tarysic –
Finding the “golden ticket”
Proof 18 survey questions – standardized
Who are the people who are in need: Income/ sources, expenses,
Should not have an obstacle to access food security – what is the underlying issue?
Important to Help – cut food costs first – but ask for food last – long cycle
Emergency food access should be more dignified
One definition of Dignity=choice
Brown Bagging 4200 kids in 215 schools (2/3rds of city) (1% of population)– has doubled over 2years – awareness at school level – community cares about you
Community Kitchen – work with agencies – no means test for Good Food Box
Bringing teaching element to programs – flyer shop, cook
In 42 schools – 10 week program Grades 4-6 – healthy choices– chop and prepare food
Calgary Produce Association supports – schools apply, bc kitchen gone from school
Tummy Tamers:
12,000 kids in the parks over the summer – hot meals – partner with Park and Play
Food Bank – sends hamper to 10 schools – 2 days of food for chronically hungry does not have to cook over weekend – mostly grade levels – high school stigma
– 80% success –attendance – grades
Alex: How you do it “non stigmatized”– Food Centre – 88% of people made a new friend – community capacity building
Food bank = emergency room
Peer advocacy program – to help when 7X run out – do accept referrals from agencies if need beyond – most important to have collaborative approach – should social worker be involved?
St Vincent – 30 day policy – they call on day 28
Why is there a 7 hamper policy – is the data real?
Moral pressure release valve – all agencies keep it simmering
MLA asking to remove cap for their area
Minimum $18.15/hour – calculator for Calgary
Need to find sources – not an “emergency”
¼ Working poor
1/10 chronic – will never have enough money for food
AISH – provide housing and income to be food secure but due to mental illness they are not capable to understand
Don’t want to have repeat customers – take more intentional approach – systems levels approach – policy – mental health advocates
LEFTOVERS CALGARY
Having trouble getting and distributing food – weather
Feb 27th - in conversation with one of my mom's friends who volunteered with United Way, I shared my concept of building a service to provide a dignified way that those who are food insecure can source out local options. I was thrilled to learn that there is a 211 service that is housed out of the Distress Centre. When I called that evening, I was surprised to learn that they simply accessed informalberta.ca - under directory - food assistance. It is the responsibility of each service provider to ensure their information is up to date, and accurate. I was curious how often this was being accessed by those that are food insecure and was provided the Contact Centre manager's name - Chloe McBean to request data. Given this does not seem to be widely known, I am hopeful that I can still build something more well known and accessible. I have been thinking of sharing the map with each service in Calgary, so they can let their clients know about it and hopefully get some media exposure to spread the word.
http://proof.utoronto.ca/resources/presentations/
Presentations – PROOF
proof.utoronto.ca
Food Insecurity in Canada Queen’s International Innovation Challenge Kick Off, October 2017 Basic Income Through the Lens of Food Insecurity Vibrant…
Talked with AnneMarie, loved idea of map, suggested moving focus away from "giving food to people in a new way" to "What challenges do people face when currently trying to access food?"
Perhaps work with orgs to create a standard process (other than PROOF) for application? Would this solve issue, or just create another competing standard? (https://xkcd.com/927/)
Food Not Bombs (09/03/18)
Challenges facing the org:
- Storage, volunteers, transportation of food
Because of decentralized anarchist nature of movement, contact is hard to maintain between independent branches
Food & housing access must go hand-in-hand
$14mil spent harassing homeless
Dignity denied for homeless - "Like an interment camp" - NIMBY
Stasha Huntington (11/03/18)
Challenge that many wouldn’t consider?
- Transportation
-imagine walking from forest lawn to food bank
- people w/o money for food can’t use transit
- higher cost in poor neighbourhoods - transfer cost from luxury products to necessities - captive audience
- people will go to alex before going local, takes up income/time, no community built
- hard to starve in Calgary, Vancouver (different elsewhere) food available but not good quality
Issues that aren’t being addressed?
- choice building
- charity model, focus placed to giver (I did good!)
- old/expired food (esp for baby formula)
- Price-taking & walmart - wages don’t allow for ppl to eat here, prices low bc of imperialism
Google map & accessibility of information/food services
- great idea
What does community building look like?
- cultural access to food, (indigenous, sudanese)
- connecting with heritage to reduce isolation
- talking with people you normally wouldn’t
How does one (get in contact with) make services known to vulnerable?
- street survival guide
- 211, AHS
- local orgs - alex should be all over calgary
- community building
Poverty reduction strategy - Vibrant Communities
- Enough for all
Thoughts surrounding community gardens?
- alternative high school
- therapeutic to address trauma
- Address social isolation
Thoughts surrounding UBI?
- Disastrous in neoliberalism, takes away all services (counselling, housing)
- minimum wage, pensions supposed to be basic income
- pensions don’t consider child rearing, haven’t changed since 70s
- rising property taxes against flat rate, homeless seniors
- After flood, many seniors were housed but did not speak up about food insecurity due to stigma/shame - reflects back to charity model (who deserves food?)
- Racism against outsiders and cradle to grave socialism in Scandanavia - based on nationality, western power - "I've paid 70% my whole life and you want to come here? F*ck off."
- supports needed beside income (housing, mental health, etc)
Other thoughts:
Paul Hughes - innovation in land access but one note man - talks about food access at low-cost housing
Certain number of food hampers need to be authorized - could have change
Scorn to spending on luxury items but imagine that life
Depression era policies (unsustainable farming, liberalism), FN reserves (lack of choice destroys culture) reflected in current era
Means to an end with conservatism, individual choice addressed by RalphBucks - how to address systemic issues and personal choice meaningfully?
Farming vegan crops suited to climate (lentils, chickpeas, potatoes,
Taking incremental approach to change - can we farm an unused strip of land?
Shelters do not grow own food
Hydroponics tech from North not widely adopted
Why are lawns a thing - at least grow native grass
Public events have focus on individual’s food, tim’s if lucky
Dyeing meat red and the other ridiculousness of advertising - the irrational man
Many recognize issues with capitalism, not many take action
What people keep vs what they give away - chomsky
Charity model decides whether people deserve basic necessities - sympathy vs empathy
Free market
About 40ppl lined up
Great way to build community - localized to neighbourhood - collective brainpower - local grocery prices very high
Heather & Shay
Avg 60 households/week, last week was 87
Ask for surveys (1/year)
#s skyrocketing in past couple of months
Concerned about demand exceeding supply if put on city-wide map, (call to see if orgs want to be taken off?) otherwise think it is amazing
Mix of greater community orgs and knowledge sharing
Most donations from foodLink
Very hard to get donations from large grocery stores—1 donation/year
Small grocers more frequent—1pallet/month, blush lane every 2 weeks
-Co-Op not approached bc not in neighbourhood
Try to create de-stigmatizing atmosphere—guests invited to linger, chat with others, try out other services—choice of food provided, not a hamper
Size of household:tokens (1:3),(2-4:6),(5+:9)
Will not turn ppl away
All nearing expired food donated through LeftOvers—hard to get expired donations otherwise
Almost always use all food—what’s not used is carried over to next week if possible
Talk to united way to see if more sources are out there
Many who use service are regulars, important that service is sustainable
One drives from forest lawn
Wide variety of food not available
Leftover food sometimes used at neighbour night (community cooking/potluck)
Go general in description if possible
Having more community markets around the city “would be the dream”